Receptacle



lr l 8, 1936. w. P. SCHIVCKEL RECEPTAGLE Filed March 29, 1934 PRES? HERE INVENTOR.

/' a ATTORNK Patented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I Application March 29,

12 Claims.

This invention relates to receptacles, and more particularly to closed or sealed receptacles provided with means for opening the same in order to have access to and use of contents thereof.

It has heretofore been proposed to open closed or sealed receptacles with separate tools or devices attached to, or supplied independently of, the receptacles and accomplishing the opening thereof by cutting or punching through the walls or ends of the receptacles, or by removing lids or closures therefrom, or by separating sealing flaps or wall portions of the receptacles, or by breaking or removing frangible sealing strips or portions of said receptacles. These and other known methods of opening or unsealing receptacles, and the known tools or devices for accomplishing the results aforesaid, have certain disadvantages in that the opening tools or devices are sometimes expensive to manufacture and, being separate from and used and applied to the receptacles exteriorly thereof, are frequently misplaced or lost, with resulting annoyance and expense to the trade. Further, closed or sealed receptacles formed with frangible or removable sealing strips or closures, are also somewhat expensive to manufacture and, moreover, are objectionable from the standpoint that they frequently fail to open, either through defects in the formation of such strips or closures, or inefficiency or faulty operation of the tools or appliances designed and provided to break or remove them.

One object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle with opening means therefor which overcomes the above mentioned defects and disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle with opening means therefor which facilitates access to and use of contents thereof through the medium of pressure or a force applied on said receptacle exteriorly thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a closed or sealed receptacle with selfcontained opening means therefor which may be rendered effective to cut or punch through and open said receptacle by merely applying pressure or a force thereon from the exterior thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle which has a device therein rendered effective to vent and open said receptacle when pressure or a force is applied thereto from the exterior thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle with self-contained opening 1934, Serial No. 718,062

means and a pouring spout or the like therefor which, through application of pressure or a force on said receptacle, may be rendered effective to open the latter and facilitate removal of the contents thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle which has self-contained opening means therefor and is formed. to retain said means in proper position in the receptacle as well as to facilitate the opening operation through application of pressure or a force thereon.

These and other objects of the present invention will appear as the following description thereof proceeds, and in order to more clearly understand said invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing which illustrates two embodiments of the inventive idea and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view of opening means made for association with a receptacle in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a receptacle equipped with said opening means and constituting therewith one embodiment of said invention;

Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views of the opposite ends, respectively, of the receptacle shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view of said receptacle, illustrating one method of opening the same through the medium of the opening means therein; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of a receptacle and opening means therein constituting therewith another embodiment of the present invention.

Broadly stated, the present invention is a closed or sealed receptacle having means wholly disposed therein for opening the same in order to have access to and use of contents thereof. In accordance with said invention, said receptacle may have pressure, or a blow, or other forces applied thereon from the exterior thereof to thereby render the opening means effective, and said opening means may be formed so that when it is arranged in the receptacle with contents thereof and the receptacle is closed or sealed, the opening means will, upon application of the pressure, blow or force on the receptacle as aforesaid, punch or cut through the wall, or an end of said receptacle, whereby access may be had to said contents the same.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, for example, IE! indicates the round body of a metal can one end I I of which is joined thereto and sealed thereon by a double seam I2. The metal end II of the can may, if desired, have stamped or otherwise suitably formed therein, an elongated recess I3, and said end of the can may also, if desired, have stamped or formed therein, preferably about said recess, suitable indicia I4 to denote the portion of the can end on which pressure or a force is to be applied, as hereinafter described.

After the end I I of the can has been applied to and sealed on the body III, an opening device such, for example, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, is placed therein. This opening device, indicated broadly at I5, may be made of steel or any other suitable metal of chamiel or other suitable shape, and as herein shown, said opening device is provided with a base I6 and reenforcing ribs I1. The opening device I5 is positioned in the can so that the base I6 has a press fit in the recess I3 of the can end II, and said opening device has arms I8 and I9 formed integrally with, and diverging from, the base I6 and providing therewith a substantially V- shaped, one piece venting and opening appliance.

Accordingly, the arm I8, which is somewhat smaller than the arm I9, is provided on its free end with a punching or cutting and vent forming edge 20. This edge 20, as clearly shown in the drawing, is inclined inwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the arm I8. The arm I9 is provided on its free end with a spout 2| formed of, and shaped from, portions of said arm. The spout 2|, in turn, has formed thereon a punching or cutting and pouring openingforming edge 22 inclined inwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of said arm.

After the opening device I5 has been placed and fitted in the can as aforesaid, the latter may be filled with lubricating oil 23 or any other material embraced in the wide variety of liquids or fluent solids that constitute consumers goods and which are supplied to the trade in sealed receptacles or packages. The opposite end 24 of the cam is then applied to, and sealed on, the body I0 thereof by a double seam 25, and the filled and sealed receptacle or package is then ready for sale to the trade. The end 24 of the can may, if desired, have suitable indicia 24 stamped or otherwise suitably formed therein to denote the portion of the can end on which pressure or a force is to be applied, as hereinafter described. The can end 24 may also, if desired. have weakened portions 26 and 21 formed therein and disposed opposite the punching or cutting edges 20 and 22, respectively, of the opening means or device I 5.

In order to open the sealed receptacle or package, pressure or forces may be applied to the opposite ends thereof at the places indicated thereon and in the directions shown by the arrows 28 in Fig. 2, or a blow may be applied, as by a hammer 29, on the end I I of said receptacle or package at the place indicated thereon and as illustrated in Fig. 5. In either case, the edges 20 and 22 of the opening device I5 will punch or cut through the weakened portions 26 and 21 of the end 24 of the receptacle or package and form vent and pouring openings 30 and 3| therein, respectively. When the vent and pouring openings are produced in the can in order to use or dispense by the edges 20 and 22 of the opening device I5, as aforesaid, the metal portions 26 and 2! will be turned back onto the end 24 by said edges, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. When the receptacle or package has been opened, as described, the spout 2I will extend therefrom through the opening SI and therewith provide means whereby the contents 23 of said receptacle or package may be readily dispensed or emptied therefrom as desired. The punching 01' cutting end 20 of the arm I8 will also extend slightly from the receptacle through the opening 30 to maintain therewith a permanent vent for said receptacle. The opening device I5 is simply constructed, inexpensive to manufacture, and Wholly contained in the receptacle or package, and when the latter has been emptied, the empty receptacle and the opening device therein may be discarded or thrown away.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, 32 indicates the round paper board body of a salt or other container provided therein, transversely thereof, with an opening device indicated broadly at 33. This opening device may be made of steel or any other suitable metal of channel or any other suitable shape, and is provided at one end with a head 34 that bears against the wall of the paper board receptacle 32. The opposite end of the opening device 33 is provided with a spout 35 formed of, and shaped from, portions of the material of said device. This spout 35 has an inclined cutting edge 36 formed thereon and disposed adjacent the wall of the receptacle 32 at a point opposite that occupied by the head 34. When it is desired to open the receptacle 32. pressure or forces are applied thereto at points thereon adjacent the head 34 and the spout 35 and in the directions indicated by the arrows 3'! (Fig. 6). The edge 36 will thus punch or cut through the receptacle and the spout 35 will extend therefrom to facilitate dispensing or emptying of the contents of said receptacle.

The present invention may be embodied in receptacles of metal, paper board, or other materials, and of round, square, oblong, or other forms, and the expression receptacle employed herein is therefore to be construed broadly enough to include any container. or package. Further, the goods or material stored in the receptacle or package may be liquids or they may be solids of a fluent nature, or any other type of goods which may, to advantage, be stored in receptacles or packages embodying the present invention.

While two embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated herein with more or less particularity, it is to be expressly understood that said invention is not limited to said embodiments or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A closed or sealed receptacle provided interiorly thereof with means formed and arranged to punch or cut through and make vent and pouring openings in said receptacle when it is subjected to pressure or a force applied thereon exteriorly thereof.

2. A closed or sealed receptacle provided interiorly thereof with means formed and arranged to cut a pouring opening in a portion only of a wall of said receptacle and provide a spout extending therethrough when the receptacle is subjected to pressure or a force applied thereon exteriorly thereof.

3. A closed or sealed receptacle having one wall portion provided therein with a recess, said receptacle having opening means wholly disposed and sealed therein with contents thereof, the opening means being fitted in said recess and adapted to produce one or more openings in an opposite wall portion of the receptacle when pressure or forces are applied on said receptacle exteriorly thereof and adjacent said means,

4. A closed or sealed metallic receptacle for holding fluent contents therein and having one wall provided with a weakened portion, said receptacle being provided with cutting means wholly disposed therein with the fluent contents, said cutting means being formed and arranged in the receptacle to out through the weakened portion of said wall only when said receptacle is subjected to pressure or a force applied thereon exteriorly thereof and to thereby produce in said wall an opening of such size and configuration that said contents may be freely poured therethrough.

5. A closed or sealed receptacle having opening means who-11y disposed and sealed therein with contents thereof, the opening means being interposed between opposite wall portions of the receptacle and comprising a base adjacent one wall portion and arms extending from the base to the opposite wall portion, one of said arms being provided with a spout and the latter and the other arm being provided with opening producing cutting edges that are forced through the adjacent wall portion of the receptacle when pressure or forces are applied on said receptacle exteriorly thereof and adjacent said means.

6. A closed or sealed receptacle having spaced apart weakened portions in one wall and a recess in an opposite wall, said receptacle having opening means wholly disposed and sealed therein with contents thereof, the opening means comprising a base fitted in said recess and diverging arms extending from said base to the spaced apart weakened portions, one of said arms being provided on its free end with a ventforming cutting edge and the other of said arms being provided on its free end with a spout and an opening-producing cutting edge therefor formed thereon, the opening means being rendered effective to punch or cut through said weakened portions of the receptacle when pressure or forces are applied on said receptacle exteriorly thereof and adjacent said means.

7. A receptacle for holding fluent contents therein and having self-contained punching or cutting means disposed in the fluent contents for making vent and pouring openings in said receptacle to enable said contents to be poured therefrom.

8. A closed and sealed receptacle consisting of a hollow body for holding fluent contents therein and comprising side, top and bottom walls, said body having means wholly disposed and sealed within the same in the fluent contents for making a pouring opening in one of said walls and said means being formed with a pouring spout or the like for dispensing said contents through said opening when the latter is made.

9. A closed or sealed receptacle for holding fluent contents therein and having self-contained means supported in the fluent contents and formed and arranged to punch or cut through the body and make vent and pouring openings therein when said body is subjected to pressure or a force applied thereon exteriorly thereof.

10. A closed and sealed receptacle consisting of a hollow body for holding fluent contents therein and comprising substantially rigid side, top and bottom walls, said body having selfcontained means supported thereby in the fluent contents for cutting through one of the walls around a limited portion only thereof upon application of external pressure or impact to produce in said wall an opening of substantial size and of a form such that said contents may be freely poured or dispensed therethrough.

11. A closed or sealed receptacle for holding fluent contents therein and having self-contained cutting means disposed in the fluent contents and adapted upon application of pressure or a force on the receptacle exteriorly thereof to cut through said receptacle, displace a limited portion of a wall thereof, and produce in said wall a hole of regular outline, size and form such that said contents may be freely poured or dispensed therethrough 12. A closed or sealed metallic receptacle for holding oil or other fluent contents therein and having self-contained cutting means supported by the receptacle in the oil or fluent contents and adapted upon application of pressure or a force on said receptacle exteriorly thereof to cut through the metal of a wall of the receptacle and produce in a portion only of said wall an opening of such form that said oil or fluent contents may be freely poured or dispensed therethrough.

WILLIAM P. SCHICKEL. 

